7AASM033 Popular Music in context: the sounds of Brazil

Module description

This module aims to provide an understanding of the principal artistic, socio-cultural and historical features of Brazilian popular music through the exploration of key concepts in popular music analysis.

The module works through a series of musicological Approaches — such as musical time, melody and harmony; the economies, social formations and politics of musical performance and consumption; musical identities and ideologies — which are illustrated and explored in relation to the specific Traditions and Histories of Brazilian Popular Music, such as batuque, samba, choro and bossa nova.

These Approaches, Traditions and Histories are not treated separately in consecutive sessions, but are integrated so that each musicological concept is illustrated and explored in relation to examples from Brazilian musical history. Ample use is made of sound recordings, live demonstrations and IT based materials.